Improvement in grain-binders



shee t's sheetlb GRAIN-BINDER.

Patented Nov. 30, 1875 N PETERS, PMOTO-UTHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, D C,

' 4Sheets-Sheet3.

J. I. ATWATER.

. GRAIN-BINDER. Q

17o, 1 7 Patented Nov. 30,1875.

4 Shee'iv-Sheet 4.

I. J. ATWYAT ER.

GRAIN-BINDER.

D'Pate nted Nov.30,18

No.170,6l7.

V B: 7 }2f 3 ATTORNEYS.

N-PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN J. ATWATER, OF innDFoRD, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-BINDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [70,6 17', dated November 30, 1875; application filed February 20, 1875.

-To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. ATWATER, of Medford, in the county of Steele and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Twine Grain-Binding Attachments for Reapers, of which the following is 'a specification: I

Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side view of my improved binder. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a detail sectionof the same, taken through the line as a", Fig. 1. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a front view of the same, part being broken away. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a detail view of the needle and its spring, stationary stop, and inclined guidestop. Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is a top view-of the binder. Fig. 6, Sheet 3, is a detail view of the toothed rack and segmental gear-wheels, by which motionis given to the various parts of the binder. Fig.7, Sheet 3, is a detail section taken through the line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 8, Sheet 4, is a side view of, the binder, part of the frame-work being broken away. Fig. 9,.Sheet 4.,is a detail horizontal section of the same, taken through the line y 1 Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention will first be described in connection with drawing, and-then pointed out in the claims.

A is the frame-work of the machine. B is acurved rack, to which motion is given from the driving mechanism of the harvester by means of a crank, pitman, or other convenient means. Upon the concave lower side of the rack B are formed teeth, which, asthe rack moves forward and downward, engage with the teeth of the segmental gear-wheel O, 7

attached to the end of the shaft D, which works in bearings attached to theframe A. Upon the shaft D is placed a hollow shaft, E,

to the opposite sides of which are attached two rows of projecting arms, F. The hollow shaft E- and arms F form a revolving table to receive the gavel and hold it while being .bound. To the other end of'the shaft D is in bearings attached to the upper part of the frame A. To the shaft J are attached a number of arms, K, which pass down upon the outer side of the vertical side of the bottomless trough or box L, that receives the cut grain ,from the harvester-elevator, are bent M, to the outer end of which is attached a weight, N, of sufficient size to support the cut grain while being collected upon the bent arms K. The other side of the bottomless receiver'is made inclined, to cause the cut grain as it is received from the elevator to slide down to the arms K. When the arms K are withdrawn the gavel falls upon the table E F, being guided into place upon said table by the guide-rods O. The upper ends of the guide-rods O of both sets are attached to the lower part of the bottomless receiving-trough L. The lower ends of the guide-rods O of the forward set-are attached to the lower part of the frame A. The lower ends of the guiderods 0 of the rear set are left loose, so that the bound sheaf may be dropped to the ground by, the half-revolutionof the table E F. The table E F is held in a horizontal position while receiving and supporting the gavel by the curved spring P, one end of which is attached to the frame A, and its other end is bent to receive the end of one of the bars F, and thus support the said table.

To the shaft D, at one end of the hollow shaft E, is rigidly attached a crank, Q, the shank of which is made a little longer than the bars F,-so that the arm of the crank Q that projects parallel with the shafts D E maybe out of the way of the sweep of said bars F. To the arm of the crank Q, near its shank, is rigidly attached a curved springarm, B, having a hook or catch formed upon its free end, which, as the crank Q swings forward, catches upon one of the cross-bars F of the table E F, and, as the said crank Q, swings rearwardly', turns the said table E F through a half-revolution, dropping the sheaf to the ground. To the arm ot the crank Q" is attached a curved arm, S, tothe free end of which is attached a spring-jaw, 8 upon the outer side of which rests the jaw 8 which is pivoted to a short arm, 8 formed upon the end of the curved arm S. The onterends of the jaws s s are connectedby acoiledsprin g,"

s, the elasticity of which holds the said jaws pressed together to hold thetwine The ball of twine is placed in a cup, T,attached tothe upper part of the frame A. The twine is passed through a guide-hole, a, in the plate or bar U, attached to thefront ofthe frame A, is coiled one or more times around the tension-rod V, attached to the plate U, to give it the proper tension,is passed through a guideslotlin bar of the: inclined rack W, and its end issecured in theuclamp 8 -8 of the arm S. Asthe crank Q is turned back by therearward movement of 5 the rack. B, the arm 1 S .draws the twine acrossith'e table E F,and at thecsame time the crank G operates 'therockshaftJ, to :withdrawthe arms K, :and allow the gavel l to drop upon the table E F,'and upon the twine drawn across said table 'E F. The twine,.as it is drawn across the tabIeIE: F,1is drawn across the edgelof the wedgeshapediend of an arm X, attached to the frame A, into theslot of the needleY, across the upper part of the side of the standard Z,

and across the edge of the plate A which keeps it from slipping down upon: IthevstandardZ. As the gavel falls upon the tahleEF the rack B begins its forward. movement, which turns the shaft D, and swings the crank Q and curved arm S forward, carrying; the twine overnthe gavel,;across the edge of the plate A ,across the upper part of the sideof the standard Z, through the slotof theineedle Y.

As the curved arm S completes its forward movement, the clamp s s drops upon the edge of the arm X, and upon the twinedrawn across said edge, so that both 'ends of the bands are now brought together within the'clamp 8 s Asthe curved arm S completes its forward movement, the rack B leaves the segmental gear-wheel O, and the teeth upon its outer side mesh into the teeth of the segmental gear wheel B attached to the upright shaft 0, which revolves in hearings attached to the :frameA. To the upper end of the shaft 0 is rigidly attached a crank-arm, D to the outer end of which is pivoted the endof aconnecting-bar, E 'The other end of the connecting-barl is pivoted to theout'erend of a crank'arm, F, rigidly attached to theupper end of the upright shaft G, which revolves in hearings in the frame A, and to the lower partofwhichis rigidly attached a segment, H, of a large gear-wheel. Asthe racklB moves forward it rotates the shaft which brings the teeth of the segment H'into gear with the teeth of the small gear-wheel I, and turns the said gear-wheel 1 forward.

The gear wheel I is pivoted to the frame A, and with it is rigidly connected a small the needle.

eccentric. wheel, J, andvacrankwheelgK. To t e cr flkp of e;cre ikwlw l;.Kt pivoted a bar, L, the movement of the for ward end of which is guided and controlled, asthe said crank-wheel K revolves, by, a spring-rod, M, one end of which is pivotedto the rear end of thei said ba-r L, and its other end is secured to the frame A. N is a. bar, ,one end ofwhich is connected with the eccentric-wheel J by astrap which passes around said wheel J. The bar N. passes through a transverse hole in the lower part of the standard Z, and to itsother endisattached a clam p, O, which rests against the outer side of the said standard Z. To the forward end of the bar L is attached a hook, I, which,as the gear-wheel I, is turnedby thesegmentalgeac wheeliH, takes hold of thettwine and; carries it .around the Jupper end :of the; standard .lZ, the clamp O being=movednoutwardiby. the eccentric J as the hook I. approaches it, and

' being carried :1. inward 1 by said eccentric (was soon as the hook I has passed,.toclamp,the twineagainst the side: of the standardiZ, and prevent it from slipping. oflusaidi standard. The needle Y is pivoted in:a;slot in :theinner end of the arm P, rigidly attached to the upper end of the inclineduarm Qhtherasaid slot being: so formed thatvthei lower endofiuthe needle Ycan move inward, but cannot move outward. The, needle Y, is .sheld .againstxthe shoulder. or. bottom: of the slot, int the. end of the arm P bya spring, .yl, attached to said arm, andwhich rests against the: outer. side of the projecting upper end of the said needle. The needle. is :slottedflfrom itsneyesnear its ilowerend nearly to its pivotingpoint,where the said slot passes .outtatcthe inner edge of The upper enduof the freearm of the needle is bent outwardysothat the twine, when being carried-across the machine :by the twine-clamp s 8 may readily pass into said slot and passdown to theeyeof the needle. As the needlepasseszdownto its ordinary:position, its lower end strikes against an inclined stop, 9 attached to the frame A,sand

pushed inward, moving the. slot .OfmtllB needle away from the stationary stop tyflattached to the arm P, and which is designed to prevent the twine from slipping up inthe said slot whencthe needle descends into the standard Z, to form the knot. The lower end of the bar Q is rigidly attached: to the outer :end of a cross-bar, R, thatwmoves uptand down in the inclined guide-rack W, and ito.

the inner end of which isrigidlyattaehed the lower end of the. inclined bar S. The inclined bar S is placed at a greater, inclination than the inclined bar Q, with which itisrigidly connected, and its upper: end is pivoted to the crank-pin ofthe weighted; crank-T(. The crack T .is rigidly: attachedto the endtof the shaft U, which revolves zinwbearings in the upper part of theflframe A, and: toflits other end is attached the bevel-gear wheel V.

The teeth of the. bevel-gear wheel V mesh into the teeth of the bevel-gear wheelW, at-

tached to the upper end of the vertical shaft X, which revolves in bearings attached to the frame A, and to the lower part of which is attached a segmental gear-wheel, Y.

With this construction, as the segmental gear-wheel H leaves 'thegear-wheel I, after carrying the hook I of the bar L around the standard Z, it comes into gear with the segmental gear-wheel Y, and gives motion to it and the mechanism connected with it. This movement raises the needle Y, carries it to the rearward, and presses it down into the longitudinal groove formed in the forward side of the standard Z, carrying the ends of the twine through the loop of said twine formed around the upper part of the said standard Z. The groove of the standard Z is covered by a spring, Z, the upper part of which is inclined inward, and around which the twine passes that passes around the upper part of the standard Z. As the needleYdescends into the groove of the standard Z it presses the upper end of the spring Z outward, bringing its inclined part against the coil of the twine, and slipping said coil off the upper end of the said standard Z. As the needle Y descends into the standard Z, a curved knife, A attachedto the inclined bar Q of the needleframe, cuts the twine between the needle Y and the twine-clamp s .9 To the frame A, at a little distance from the standard Z, is pivoted abar, B which is bentinto U form, and has a hook formed upon its inner arm. As the nee-' dle descends into the groove of the standard Z, a bar, 0 attached to the inclined bar Q, strikes a pin, 0, attached to the inner arm of the U-bar B and forces the hook of said arm through a slot formed between the rear side of said needle Y and an arm, y, attached to said needle. The hook of the U-bar B passes through the needle Y above its eye, so as, when the needle Y is raised, to draw the ends of the twine out of the eye of the needle, to prevent said ends from being drawn out of the loop or coil of the twine by the ascent of the needle. As the needle Y is raised from the standard Z the spring Z moves back and clamps the ends of the twine against the back of the slot in the standard Z, to prevent them from being drawn outof the loop or coil of the twine before the knot has been drawn tight. The hook of the U-bar B is withdrawn from the standard Z by a pin, D attached to the clamp O, and which strikes against the outer arm of the said U-bar B The downward movement of the needle Y is limited by a stop, E attached to the frame A, and against which the inclined bar Q of the needle-frame strikes. As the rack B again begins its forward movement the first efiect is to raise the needle Y and carry itto its usual position. The next effect is to move backjthe clamp O and release the loop of the twine, allowing the elasticity of the sheaf to draw the knot tight. The crank Q and arm S are then swung back to draw the twine again across the table E F, and at the same time the said table is revolved to throw the sheaf to the ground. As the crank Q and table E F come intoposition another gavel is dropped upon the table E F, and is bound in the manner hereinbefore described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of the stationary wedgeshaped rest or arm X with the twine-clamp, constructed substantially as described, and the swinging arm S, for inserting the body of the twine into said clamp without releasing the end of the twine, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the spring-stop P R with the revolving table or rack-shaft D and crank Q, carrying the twine-clamping devices, substantially as herein described.

3. The combination of the grooved standard Z, the plate A the hook-bar L 1, spring M, crank-wheel K, and gear-wheel I with each other, for forming the loop in the twine, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The combination of the clamp O, sliding bar N, and the eccentric J with the grooved standard Z and the gear-wheel I, for holding the loop in place upon the standardZ, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The slotted needle Y, and its stationary stop 3 and spring 11 the needle-frame P Q R S, the crank T, and the inclined guiderack W, in combination with the grooved standard Z, for passing the ends of the twine through the loop, substantially as herein shown and described.

6. The combination of the spring Z with.

the grooved standard Z and with the needle Y, for pushing the loop from the said standard and holding the ends of the twine, substantially as herein shown and described.

7. The combination of the inclined guidestop 1 with the needle Y, and its stationary guard-stop 3 and spring 3 for uncovering the slot of said needle, substantially as herein shown and described.

8. The combination of the pivoted U-bar B and the stops 1) (J D with the grooved standard Z, the clamp Q, the needle Y, and the needle-frame P Q It S, for'withdra'wing the ends of the twine from the eye of the needle, substantially as herein shown and described.

9. The combination of the rack B, the segmental gear-wheels B H, the upright shafts G G, the cranks D F, and the connectingrod E with the gear-wheel I, for operating the hook-bar L and the clamp O, substantially as herein shown and described.

10. The combination of the segmental gearwheel Y, the upright shaft X, the bevel-gear wheels W V, and the horizontal shaft U with the segmental gear-wheel H and the crank T, for operating the needle-frame and needle, substantially as herein shown and described. i i

11. The combination of the cranks GI, the slotted connecting-rod H, the roek'shaft J, the weighted arm M N, and the bent arms K with the shaft D, that carries the crank Q and the swinging arm S, and with the open-bottomed grain-receiver L, siibstanti'aily as herein shown and. described.

JOHN J. Witnesses:

L. W. ATWATER, JOHN H. ATWATER.

ATWATER. 

